Electrode for a contact start plasma arc torch and contact start plasma arc torch employing such electrodes
First Claim
1. An electrode for a plasma arc torch in electrical communication with a power supply, the electrode comprising:
- an elongated electrode body formed of an electrically conductive material, the electrode body defining a longitudinal axis; and
a resilient element for passing substantially all of a pilot arc current between the power supply and the electrode body during a pilot arc operation of the plasma arc torch.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrode for a contact start plasma arc torch includes an elongated electrode body formed of an electrically conductive material. The electrode body is movable relative to the torch. A resilient element is used for passing substantially all of a pilot arc current between a power supply, a power connection in electrical communication with the power supply, and the electrode body during pilot arc operation of the plasma arc torch. The electrode and torch can include a contact element having a first surface in electrical communication with the power contact and a second surface for physical contact and electrical communication with a corresponding contact surface of the electrode body for passing substantially all of a transferred arc current between the power supply and the electrode body during transferred arc mode.
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Citations
71 Claims
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1. An electrode for a plasma arc torch in electrical communication with a power supply, the electrode comprising:
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an elongated electrode body formed of an electrically conductive material, the electrode body defining a longitudinal axis; and
a resilient element for passing substantially all of a pilot arc current between the power supply and the electrode body during a pilot arc operation of the plasma arc torch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An electrode for a plasma arc torch, the electrode comprising:
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an elongated electrode body formed of an electrically conductive material defining a longitudinal axis and a distal end including an emissive element, wherein the electrode body is movable relative to the torch; and
a contact element including a first surface for facilitating electrical communication with a power supply and a second surface for facilitating electrical communication with a corresponding contact surface of the electrode body when the torch is operated in a transferred arc mode, wherein the second surface of the contact element is characterized by the absence of contact with the contact surface of the electrode body during initiation of a pilot arc. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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18. The electrode of 15, wherein the resilient element is retained by the electrode body.
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28. A contact element for conducting current between a power supply and an electrode body slideably mounted within a torch body of a contact start plasma arc torch, the contact element comprising:
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a first surface for facilitating electrical communication with the power supply;
a second surface configured for electrical communication with a contact surface defined by a proximal end of the electrode body, wherein when the electrode body is in physical contact with the second surface at least a portion of a transferred arc current passes through the contact element and between the power supply and the electrode body for operating the torch in a transferred arc mode; and
an electrically conductive resilient element disposed adjacent the electrode body for passing substantially all of a pilot arc current from the power supply to the electrode body during a pilot arc operation of a plasma arc torch. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. An electrode for a plasma arc torch, the electrode comprising:
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an elongated electrode body formed of an electrically conductive material and defining a longitudinal axis, the electrode body including;
a distal end defining a bore for receiving an emissive element;
a proximal end defining a contact surface for electrical communication with a power supply; and
a receptacle disposed within the proximal end of the electrode body for receiving at least a portion of a contact element such that a first portion of the contact element is physically remote from the electrode body during initiation of a pilot arc, the first portion for passing substantially all of a transferred arc current between a power supply and the electrode body when the torch is operated in a transferred arc mode, such that the bore and the receptacle are separated by the electrode body. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A contact element for conducting current between a power supply and an electrode body slideably mounted within a torch body of a contact start plasma arc torch, the electrode body including a distal end that includes an emissive element, the contact element comprising:
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a first surface for facilitating electrical communication with the power supply; and
a second surface for facilitating electrical communication with a proximal end of the electrode body, wherein the second surface is not in contact with the proximal end during initiation of a pilot arc and is in contact with the proximal end during a transferred arc mode, such that at least a portion of a transferred arc current from the power supply passes between the first and second surfaces of the contact element to the electrode body when the torch is operated in the transferred arc mode. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A plasma arc torch comprising:
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a power supply for providing current to the torch;
a plasma chamber defined by a nozzle and an electrically conductive electrode body slideably mounted within the torch along an axis defined by a proximal end of the electrode body and a distal end of the electrode body, the proximal end defining a contact surface and the distal end disposed adjacent an exit orifice of the nozzle;
a power contact disposed in a stationary position relative to the plasma chamber, the power contact in electrical communication with the power supply;
a resilient conductive element for passing substantially all of a pilot arc current between the power contact and the contact surface of the electrode body during pilot arc operation of the plasma arc torch; and
a contact element including a first surface for electrical communication with a corresponding contact surface of the electrode body and a second surface in physical contact with the power contact for passing substantially all of a transferred arc current between the power supply and the electrode body during transferred arc mode. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. A plasma arc torch comprising:
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a power supply for providing current to the torch;
a plasma chamber defined by a nozzle and an electrically conductive electrode body slide ably mounted within the torch along an axis defined by a proximal end of the electrode body and a distal end of the electrode body, the electrode body defining a contact surface and the distal end disposed adjacent an exit orifice of the nozzle;
a power contact disposed in a stationary position relative to the plasma chamber, the power contact in electrical communication with the power supply; and
a resilient conductive element for passing substantially all of a pilot arc current between the power contact and the contact surface of the electrode body during pilot arc operation of the plasma arc torch such that the resilient conductive element biases the electrode body toward the nozzle. - View Dependent Claims (67)
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68. An electrode for a plasma arc torch in electrical communication with a power supply, the electrode comprising:
an elongated electrode body formed of an electrically conductive material and defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the electrode body comprises;
a first surface for electrical communication with a first conductive element for facilitating passage of a pilot arc current between the power supply and the electrode body during initiation of a pilot arc; and
a second surface positioned remotely from the first surface, the second surface for physical contact and electrical communication with a corresponding surface of a power contact for facilitating passage of substantially all of a transferred arc current between the power supply and the electrode body during a transferred arc operation, wherein the second surface of the electrode body is characterized by the absence of contact with the corresponding surface of the power contact during initiation of the pilot arc.
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69. A plasma torch component for slideably receiving an electrode, the component comprising:
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an elongated hollow body having a first end and a second end, the hollow body comprising;
an interior surface, one or more of a contour, step, or flange located on the interior surface and disposed between the first end and the second end of the hollow body, the one or more of the contour, step, or flange defining a shaped opening adapted for slideably receiving a complementary-shaped portion of the electrode, a first opening in the first end of the hollow body sized to receive an electrical contact element, and a second opening in the second end of the hollow body sized to slideably receive the electrode; and
an electrically conductive resilient member for facilitating electrical communication of a pilot arc, the resilient member disposed within the hollow body, such that the resilient member is at least partially maintained within the hollow body by the one or more of a contour, step, or flange, and wherein the resilient member aligns with the first opening. - View Dependent Claims (70, 71)
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Specification